Takomo Iron 101 MKII Irons Review – The Budget Game Improvement Iron That Has No Business Being This Good
Takomo have been quietly shaking up the golf industry since 2021 and the 101 MKII is their latest statement.
At $579 for a full set from 5 iron to gap wedge, these cost roughly half what you’d pay for a Ping G740 or TaylorMade Qi Max. The question is whether you’re actually giving anything up for that saving.
Takomo Iron 101 MKII Overview
These are hollow body irons with a 431 stainless steel body paired with a variable thickness 17-4 stainless steel face in the 5 through 8 irons.
That variable thickness is doing the heavy lifting, the face is thinner around the perimeter and hotter in the centre so your mishits still carry reasonable distance. From the 9 iron down to the gap wedge the face switches to a flat design for precision and control where you need it most.
The biggest change from the original Iron 101 is the set makeup. Takomo ditched the 4 iron, which most high handicappers couldn’t hit consistently anyway, and replaced it with a gap wedge based on direct customer feedback. The gapping into your wedges is now much cleaner and the gap wedge itself has an oversized head that’s ridiculously easy to hit.
The lofts are the strongest of Takomo’s three 2026 models with the 7 iron at 29 degrees. Users are reporting 25 to 35 yards gained per club compared to older beginner sets. Some of that is the strong lofts doing the work but the hot face is contributing too.
Takomo have also switched manufacturing partners for the MKII generation, moving to a Taiwanese supplier with a factory in Vietnam.
The result is cleaner casting, fewer impurities in the steel and better consistency from iron to iron.
Sound and Feel
This is where the 101 MKII genuinely surprised me. Cast hollow body game improvement irons usually feel clunky and hollow at impact. These don’t.
The feel is soft and buttery with a satisfying pop off the face that you’d normally associate with irons costing twice the price.
The progressive weighting is well thought out with the head shape and sole width changing through the bag. The 5 iron has a slightly thicker topline for extra forgiveness while the wider sole on the pitching wedge helps with turf interaction.
Testing showed very consistent performance data across the set, particularly the gap wedge and 7 iron which produced tight predictable numbers.
The 5 iron spin rates came in a bit lower than expected but the review set had shafts 25 grams heavier than what most testers would normally play, so that’s likely a shaft mismatch rather than a club issue.
There’s a noticeable 3.4mm of offset in the 7 iron which helps square the face for slicers. But if you already close the face naturally, be aware that the offset combined with the hollow body design could push a draw into a hook.
How They Look
This is Takomo’s secret weapon.
The chamfered topline where the rear portion has been shaved away creates an optical illusion that makes the club look significantly thinner at address than it actually is. You get the visual confidence of a players iron with all the game improvement forgiveness hiding behind it.
The two tone cavity finish with brushed satin chrome is genuinely premium. Minimalist branding, no flashy graphics. These look clean in the bag and better at address than most game improvement irons from the major brands.
Who Should Play The Takomo 101 MKII?
These are built for beginners, high handicappers and golfers who need every bit of help getting the ball airborne.
If you’re a 15 to 36 handicap player who wants easy launch, maximum forgiveness and serious distance gains, these belong on your shortlist.
They’re also a genuine option for senior golfers with the lighter KBS Tour Lite shaft available. Easy launch, forgiving face and strong lofts at a price that doesn’t sting.The direct to consumer model means premium components at half the price of the big brands.
The trade off is no try before you buy in a pro shop, though Takomo offer a 30 day fairway trial with the 7 iron. If you’ve never been fitted, get a basic fitting done locally so you know your specs before ordering.
Final Thoughts
The Takomo 101 MKII does something that should worry Ping, TaylorMade and Callaway.
It delivers the vast majority of what their flagship game improvement irons deliver for less than half the price.
They’ve listened to customers with the gap wedge addition, the removal of the 4 iron and improved manufacturing quality.
The hollow body construction gives you distance and launch, the variable thickness face protects you on mishits and that clever topline design makes them look far more refined than a super game improvement iron has any right to.
Are the Ping G740 or TaylorMade Qi Max marginally better? Probably. But neither costs $579 for a full set. When you factor in value for money the 101 MKII is one of the standout releases of 2026 and proof that you don’t need to spend a fortune to play quality irons.
Just watch the draw bias if you’re prone to hooking and get fitted for the right shaft. Other than that, seriously impressive for the money.
Takomo 101 MKII Irons
Category – Game Improvement
Takomo 101 MKII First Impressions
The Takomo 101 MKII’s are proper game improvement irons but they don’t look like it at all which is brilliant.
Takomo are relatively new to golf, founded in 2021, but they’ve been listening to what golfers actually want and it shows.
The first thing you notice is how clean these look at address. They’ve shaved the rear topline which creates this optical illusion where the club looks way thinner than it actually is. So you get that players iron confidence without losing the forgiveness.
We have a hollow body construction made from 431 stainless steel for flexibility and the face is variable thickness 17-4 stainless steel in the 5 through 8 irons for explosive speed. The 9 iron through gap wedge have a flat face for more precision and control.
Takomo listened to feedback and ditched the 4 iron from the previous model (which nobody really needed anyway) and added a gap wedge instead. Much better for gapping into your wedges.
The lofts are strong and modern so these sit firmly in the distance category. We’re talking 25 to 35 yards more per club compared to older beginner sets.
The feel is soft and buttery which is mad for cast hollow irons, you’d easily mistake them for forged clubs costing twice the price.
Takomo 101 MKII Selling Points
- Hollow Body Design For Distance And Forgiveness
- Looks Like A Players Iron At Address
- Soft Buttery Feel From Variable Thickness Face
- Strong Modern Lofts For Distance
- Progressive Weighting Through The Set
- 5 Iron To Gap Wedge Gapping
- Direct To Consumer Pricing At Half Mainstream Brands
- Consistent Data Off The Face
Takomo 101 MKII Lofts
| Club | Loft (°) |
|---|---|
| 5 | 22 |
| 6 | 25 |
| 7 | 28 |
| 8 | 32 |
| 9 | 37 |
| PW | 42 |
| GW | 48 |
Who Are The Takomo 101 MKII Irons For?
These are aimed squarely at mid to high handicappers who want forgiveness but also want their clubs to look the part in the bag.
The hollow body construction gives you muscle back looks with cavity back forgiveness which is the best of both worlds really.
The progressive weighting means the 5 iron has a slimmer sole for versatility while the pitching wedge has a wider sole that helps with turf interaction. The gap wedge has a large forgiving head thats easy to hit around the greens.
There is 3.4mm of offset in the 7 iron which does create some draw bias so if you tend to close the face and hook it you might need to watch that.
The direct to consumer model means you cant try them in person but you’re getting these for just over £500 for a full set which is brilliant value. Takomo are targeting golfers who know what they want and do their research.
Overall these will suit anyone from mid to high handicappers who want distance, forgiveness and premium looks without the premium price tag.
Scorecard
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Looks | 92 |
| Distance | 94 |
| Forgiveness | 93 |
| Sound And Feel | 91 |
| Workability | 85 |
| Value | 98 |
Overall Rating: 92/100
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Aidan Lehane is a 7 handicap who is on the road to becoming a scratch golfer. AIdan has been an avid reviewer of golf clubs for over 5 years now bringing a wealth of experience to the Golf Fitting And Equipment Markets. Recently seen winning the Lobster Cup in Bangkok Thailand.
